GETTING DISCOVERED

The industry is based on first impressions... in that impression you must show your ability to portray the experience and versatility of a professional. A striking portfolio is essential for both models and performers. Your ability to leave them with nothing but a great image is only as great as your photographer.

Our advice to those who are looking to break into the industry is this: There's no sure way, but to try. And remember, anything worth having is worth working for… and believe us, models do work their butts off! There are a few ways to pursue a career in modeling, so we thought we'd break them down for you.

1. Know someone who knows someone.

2. Be discovered while eating a cheeseburger.

3. Get a gig in an ad or some other widespread media.

4. Start a portfolio and begin your rounds at agencies and interviews.

No matter what path works for you, there is one sure thing: to continue being booked, you will need:

Headshots - A Portfolio - A Comp Card

COMP CARDS | ZED CARDS

Typically designed as a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 double-sided postcard, showing a variety of looks, your contact info and stats. These are your business cards; keep them on you, you never know when you'll end up meeting or networking with a great contact.

Women’s Stats: hair color, eye color, height, shoe size, dress size, bust, waist & hips measurements, and occasionally special skills and specific markings

Men’s Stats: hair color, eye color, height, shoe size, suit size, shirt size, waist and inseam measurements, and occasionally special skills and specific markings

MODEL PORTFOLIO BOOKS

Portfolios should be presented in professional books and can come in a variety of standard sizes. 8.5x11 and 9x12 sizes are common (allowing enough space for tear sheets). This is used to show a variety of looks or styles, expressions and your best work.

PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

8x10 prints are the most common size to leave behind at an open call or an audition and should have your name and phone number on it. Digital images have also become very popular as a lot of online job postings require a digital submission.

OUR PORTFOLIO PREFERENCE WHEN HIRING MODELS

Our favorite combination when hiring talent for a photo shoot is to see a larger portfolio with a comp card for us to keep on file. The portfolio should be a perfect representation of how you work in front of the camera and show as much versatility as possible. The comp card should be a mini reminder of your portfolio, meant to be left behind to be kept on file for future opportunities.

MODEL PORTFOLIO TIPS

We love Comp Cards- they stay in our talent folder and we can always present some options to our commercial and editorial clients when they’re looking to hire talent for a shoot with us.

Now that a lot of our model search opportunities are posted on the web, we appreciate those who can submit images digitally or have a portfolio website online.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

A professional in any field needs to read, watch, and learn about the latest industry standards. This includes models and actors. You should be up to date on the industry of your choice whether it be fashion, commercial, editorial or runway.

And we cannot stress enough on the importance of doing your mirror work. What is this you ask... spending time in front of the mirror, posing your body and testing your expressions. Learn how your face feels when making a certain expression to be able to recall it on shoots from muscle memory. For ideas, look at magazines, try some different poses and see what works for your figure. Pay close attention to your legs, feet, arms and hands... what looks good, what looks awkward.

Try to do the mirror work for 5-10 minutes at least once a day.

HEADSHOT TIPS: CLOTHING, HAIR & MAKE-UP

Click The Above Text To View Our Headshot Tip Sheet